Director of Business Development

About the role

The Training Center is seeking a high-energy Director of Business Development to lead our expansion across corporate, high school, and institutional markets. Your mission is to establish The Training Center as the nation’s premier trade school for skilled trades training, including HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing, Welding, and Boiler Operation. The role will drive B2B growth by turning initial introductions into lasting business partnerships. You will be responsible for ensuring that organizations look to us as their primary resource for upskilling staff and hiring elite trade talent.

Responsibilities

• Identify and penetrate large-scale accounts to become their exclusive outsourced training provider.
• Deepen our footprint in NJ high schools (and adjacent regions over time).
• Build stronger relationships with each school to drive awareness of our career development programs.
• Work with local companies to hire our graduates while simultaneously cross-selling our training courses to their existing staff.
• Develop and manage a “Hiring Pipeline” by partnering with local companies to hire our graduates while simultaneously cross-selling our training courses to their existing staff.
• Collaborate with local government and non-profits to position The Training Center as the primary provider for grant-funded training initiatives and community development programs.
• Manage our presence at industry trade shows and conferences; turn handshakes into long-term partnerships.

Qualifications & Skills

• 7+ Years of Business Development Experience: A proven track record of driving growth and meeting goals in B2B sales, partnerships, workforce development, or vocational/continuing education.
• Relationship Farming & Account Management: Experience in not just “closing” a sale, but continuously nurturing and expanding the lifetime value (LTV) of accounts through trust-building, strategic upselling, and bundled training solutions.
• The “Magnet” Personality: You are a natural connector with a high-energy presence. You make a positive first impression and build trust quickly with stakeholders ranging from business owners to school administrators.
• Public Speaking Prowess: Exceptional communication skills; you are as comfortable presenting to a room of 200 students as you are pitching to a CEO or Board of Directors.
• Strategic Prospecting: Ability to navigate complex sales cycles within the education and corporate sectors (e.g., NJ school districts, skilled trade contractors, or large-scale facilities management groups).
• Industry Network & Credibility (Plus): Established relationships within the New Jersey ecosystem, school districts, large facility management groups, and trade contracting companies (HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical, Welding).
• Familiarity with the NJ trade-licensing landscape and workforce development programs (e.g., NJDOL, WIOA-funded training) is a strong plus.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred; equivalent professional experience considered.
• Willingness to travel throughout NJ and the surrounding region (50%+ field-based).

Pay

Competitive base salary plus a performance-based commission and incentive plan that provides uncapped upside in earnings, full benefits, and a clear path to grow with a 40-year-established and expanding organization.

Schedule

Full-time position with flexible work schedule to accommodate travel requirements.